HIV/AIDS IS REAL

Years ago, how many times did we hear the phrase AIDS is real? I heard it like a zillion times. Overtime, the message has died down. That initial fear I felt, heart pounding, I mean, one can get it through several means and the thought that I had it kept ringing in my head. Well, until I braced up and got tested. I have had several tests ever since. We are told to do it every six months. The earlier one knows his or her status, the better. So many people on a revenge mission to pass it on so please be careful.
When the time came to do a story on AIDS, it became like a mission. Two AIDS stories from Nigeria. The team spent several days trying to get elements. It got difficult when we needed to interview a person living with HIV. Fortunately we found two, or rather one because one of them refused to reveal her identity.  The experience unravelled the extent in which lots of them are scared to disclose their status owing to the prevailing issue of discrimination in Nigeria. Many of them have to leave their environment to go to a health facility in another location where they are not known to get their antiretrovirals.
I am calling on all to show love, stop the discrimination against those infected. Get tested as well so we can stop HIV together. Great relief that many non-governmental organisations are not relenting in the AIDS fight.
It was nice to see that Nigeria was added to other countries in a joint edit highlighting the campaign for zero new infections.
Link below:
http://www.reuters.com/video/2013/12/01/world-aids-day-from-africa-to-australia?videoId=274747271

Link to story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VB1gf1SnnOw

Sharon Ogunleye with Ibrahim Umaru (Openly living with HIV) and colleague, Angela Ukomadu